Apparatus for finishing textiles



March 1961 s. w. SPEERS 2,973,635

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING TEXTILES Filed March 23, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 7, 1961 s. w. sPEERs APPARATUS FOR FINISHING TEXTILES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 23, 1956 March 7, 1961 Filed March 25, 1956 s. w. SPEERS 2,973,635

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING TEXTILES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 APPARATUS FOR FINEHING TEXTILES Stewart W. Speers, Upper Darby, Pa, assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Phiiadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 23, 1956, Set. him-573,361

1 Claim. (Cl. 68-5) This invention relates to textiles and in particular to apparatus for finishing textiles in the form of yarn, fabrics, webs and products made therefrom. This applica" tion is a continuation-in-part of my copending United States application Serial No. 525,979, now US. Patent 2,906,205, filed August 2, 1955.

In finishing textiles, it is often necessary to humidity or rehumidify the textile to prepare it for the finishing treatment or to rehumidify it to restore moisture after finishing. In the prior art methods, the moisture has been added by spraying water onto the textile. :It is obvious that when a droplet of liquid waterfalls upon a yarn spaced from another droplet, the yarn will have a non-uniform moisture content often resulting in wrinkling, buckling, untwisting and other physical non-uniformity. If the concentration of droplets of water is sufficiently great to obtain a uniform distribution, the textile will become wet and the moisture content will then be in excess of that desired. Many textile finishing operations are impaired if the fabric does not contain the proper amount of moisture and the presence of liquid water on a wet fabric will, in many cases, result in an improper finish or prevent uniformity of finish. Likewise, the wetting of a textile after finishing it often results in the degradation or destruction of the finish.

The current practice in moistening fabrics is to spray" the fabric'w-ith water at room temperature and then pass the wet fabric through a heated calender to squeeze the water into the fabric. This frequently results, however, in merely evaporating the water from the surface, thus resulting in a non-uniform fabric.

Therefore, it is a general object of the .present invention to provide apparatus for incorporating moisture uniformly into a textile, before, during or after finishing it, without wetting the fabric.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination of units in an apparatus for finishing fabrics which require uniforrr'iity and regulation of moisture con tent.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for pre-humidifying a textile prior to finishing so that the moistureconten't will be proper for the finishing treatment to be applied to the textile.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the rehurnidification of a textile after finishing so that the finished textile will have the properties desired from the finishing.

in general, the present invention provides a process of finishing textile in which the textile is passed through an atmosphere of steam at an elevated temperature before, duringor after finishing the textile, and immediately thereafter cooling or chilling the fabric to at least the temperature of the ambient atmosphere to prevent loss of moisture by passing the fabric textile through a cooling zone. in general, the apparatus of the invention comprises, in combination with textile finishing means, a chamber having means to pass the textile therethrough,

means to spray steam into the chamber at an elevated temperature to create an atmosphere of steam through which the textile passes, means to control the steam spray when the passage of the textile through the chambers is interrupted so that the material will not become wet by the interruption in its travel through the chamber, means to immediately cool the humidified textile as it leaves the chamber to prevent loss of moisture therefrom, and means to create a positive steam pressure within the chamber.

The term 'textile as used in this application includes yarns and strands, rovings, warps and woven, knitted and netted fabrics and non-woven fabrics as well as textile articles such as garments all of which may be formed of natural, artificial and synthetic staple fibers or filaments either singly or in admixture with each other. The knitted fabrics can be flat or circular knit but are passed through the apparatus in a flat condition.

, The apparatus is applicable to various textile finishing processes. The finishing processes may comprise any treatment to cause a change in the physical or chemical properties of the textile, including the application to the textile of a substance to impregnate, combine with or coat the fibers or the textile either temporarily or permanently. Thus, the invention is applicable, for example, to the following finishing operations:

(a) finishing treatments to shape or modify the physical character of the textile, not involving the addition of a substance to the textile, such, for example, as calendering, pressing, ironing, embossing, shearing, shreinerizing, compressive shrinking, stretching, boarding, napping, tentering, thermal bonding of fibers in the textile, cutting, etc.,

(b) finishing treatments to modify the color or chemical characteristics involving the addition of a substance to the textile, such, for example, as soaping, bleaching, treatment with chemical agents for weighting, sizing, dyeing, pigmenting, printing, also treatments with a chemical to render the textile resistant to wrinkling or to the action of bacteria, fungus organisms, mildew, moths, and the like, to impart a glaze, to render the fabric capable of being washed and worn without ironing, to render the fabric waterproof or water-repellent, to stabilize the dimensions, to m'ercerize or to adhesively bond fibers in the textile and the like.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the vertical embodiment of one section of the conditioning unit with its controls;

Figure 2 is a cross-section of one of the steam conduits and spray nozzles used in the vertical type of conditioner;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a fragment of the bafiles which may be used in the vertical embodiment of the conditioning unit;

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of another embodiment of a conditioning unit;

Figure 5 is a cross-section of one of the steam conduits and spray nozzles used in the horizontal type of conditioner; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of another range for applying a chemical composition to'a textile fabric.

As shown in the drawings, the textile web 1 passes over a guide roll 2 and then travels downwardly through the humidifier chamber or housing 3 and immediately upon leaving the humidifier housing passes over the cooling rolls 4 and 5. The cooling rolls are provided to cool or chill the humidified textile to a temperature of about that of the ambient atmosphere to prevent loss of moisture which has been imparted in the humidified chamber. The textile material is at an elevated temperature as it leaves the chamber and, unless it is immediately cooled, moisture is lost by vaporization with the result that the final moisture content will be dependent upon atmospheric conditions. The immediate cooling, therefore, allows an accurate control of the moisture content of the textile regardless of the ambient atmospheric conditions. The textile is then passed around guide rolls 6 and 7 and may proceed to any desired supplementary apparatus for finishing the textile or to a collecting drum or roll 8. As will be explained hereinafter, the conditioning unit comprises two humidifier sections with means for guiding the textile in a desired path before final cooling.

The housing 3 is provided with exhaust ducts 9 and 10 through which air and excess steam are withdrawn from the chamber. Banks of steam coils 11 and 12 are positioned adjacent the walls of the housing, the uppermost courses surrounding the intake sections 13 and 14 of the exhaust ducts, so as to maintain the atmosphere within the housing and exhaust intake sections at a sufficiently elevated temperature to avoid undesired or excessive condensation. Saturated steam is introduced at the top of coils 11 and 12 and condensate or saturated steam is exhausted at the bottom of the coils. A second group of steam coils is positioned within the housing 3 being disposed between the coils 11 and 12 and the traveling web 1. These banks 15 and 16 comprise vertical headers 17 and 18 and horizontal runners 19 which are provided with jets 20. Steam is introduced to the headers from steam line 21 through conduits 22 and 23 and lines 24 and 25, and is forced directly or indirectly onto the web 1 by means of the jets. Where it is desired to force the steam indirectly onto the web 1, the jets may be so arranged to direct the steam upwardly at an angle of approximately 45" against the lateral slats 26 of a bafile assembly 27. The horizontal runners 19 (Figure 3) are bent slightly downward at each end to prevent accumulation of condensate in the lines. The bafile slats 26 are similarly shaped so that they are in alignment with the jets 20.

In some instances, it is desired to impinge the steam directly onto the sheet. In this case, the baflie assemblies 27 can be readily removed from in front of the banks 15 and 16 since the baffie assemblies are supported from the uppermost horizontal runner by adjustable hangers 28. If direct impingement of the steam normal to the sheet is desired, the jets may be replaced with jets 29 having an angled bore 30 which has a horizontal outer terminus so that steam is directed horizontally and generally at right angles against the Web 1 (Figure 2).

Saturated or moist steam for both banks 15 and 16 is admitted to the top of the headers through steam line 21 and valve 31. The main switch 32 (Figure 1) for starting the motor 33 which moves the web through the chamber and the textile finishing apparatus also controls the opening and closing of valve 31 through an electro-pneumatic relay 34 connected to air line 35 through a combined pressure regulator'and air filter 36. The discharge air line 37 from relay 34 is connected to the pneumatic coil valve 31 so that when switch 32 is closed the valve 31 will eventually open to admit steam into the upper lines 22 and 23. It will be understood that there is a delay of several seconds between the time that switch 32 is closed and the actual entry of steam into lines 22 and 23. Upon opening of switch 32, whereby the travel of the web is arrested, the valve 31 closes instantaneously and discontinues the flow of steam to the jets, thereby preventing overhumidification of the textile web 1. Slight, intermitent advancement (jogging) of the web, as by closing and opening of switch 32 may be obtained without injecting steam because of the time lag between the closing of switch 32- and the opening of valve 31. The time lag between the closing of switch 32 and the opening of valve 31 should not be too great, otherwise suflicient humidification will not be eliected upon resumption of the travel of the textile but should be great enough to permit jogging without injection of steam. The jets or nozzles 20 and 29 are preferably positioned above the centers of the horizontal runners 19 as a precaution against the spraying of condensed water 38 into the chamber and against the web. Condensate in the banks 15 and 16 and the headers is removed from the humidifier through large exhaust lines 39 and 40.

In the embodiment of the humidifier unit, as shown in Figure 4, three banks of steam coils are provided to allow a greater flexibility of operation. The humidifier may be provided with walls 41 containing suitable heatinsulating materials to house the banks of steam injection coils 42, 43 and 44. If desired, heating coils also may be provided as illustrated in Figure 1. Each of the banks of steam injection coils comprises a pair of spaced vertical headers 45 and horizontal runners 46. The horizontal runners of the outer banks of coils 42 and 44 are provided with suitable jets which direct the steam inwardly toward the traveling textile web. The horizontal runners of the central bank of coils 43 are provided with jets which direct the steam outwardly toward the traveling textile web. As pointed out hereinbefore, bafile assemblies may be supported in front of the steam coils to avoid the direct impingement of the steam against the textile web, if desired. Steam is supplied to the headers from steam line 47 through lines 48, 49 and 50 and the supply of steam may be regulated by a single control valve as illustrated in Figure l. Condensate from the banks of steam injection coils is removed through a conduit 51 and steam trap 52. An exhaust duct 53 is provided with intake sections 54, 55 and 56 adjacent the upper portion of the unit to remove air and excess steam. The intake sections extend from the front wall to the back wall and are provided with elongated apertures 57, 58 and 59, respectively, adjacent the path of the traveling textile web.

The bottom of the housing is provided with elongated apertures 60 and 61 through which the textile web is passed into and from the humidifying atmosphere. The travel of the textile web 62 into the humidifier unit and between steam injection coils 42 and 43 is guided by a roller 63 in alignment with the aperture 60 and by a roller 64 adjacent the top of the housing. The textile web then passes over guide roll 65, down between adjacent steam injection coils 43 and 44 and through the aperture 61. Immediately upon leaving the humidifier unit, the web passes over the chill roll 66. From the chill roll, the textile web passes over guide rolls 67 and 68 and thence to the finishing apparatus. The moisture introduced by this two-pass travel between adjacent steam injection coils is about equal to the moisture content which can be imparted to the textile web by passing it through two separate humidifier units, such as illustrated in Figure 1.

In order to provide flexibility of operation, an inlet port 69 may be provided in one side wall in alignment with the guide roll 65. In instances where the textile fabric is to be provided with relatively small amounts of moisture, the textile web may pass through the inlet port, as shown by the broken line 70, over the guide roll 65, downwardly between steam injection' coils 43 and 44 and thence to the chill roll 66. Hinged closure 71 may be provided to permit the aperture 69 to be closed unless the textile web is passed directly to the guide roll 65.

This type of humidifier unit is adapted to provide a range of humidification of the fabric. For example, a circular knit cotton textile may be provided with a moisture content of from about 2% to about 15% depending upon the travel of the web through the humidifier unit and upon the presence or absence of baffie assemblies adjacent the steam coils. A single pass of the web between injection coils 43 and 44 when battle assemblies are interposed between the jets and the web and then directly to the coolingroll results in a conditioned ,web containing about 2% to about 5% moisture, while a single pass of the web between injection coils 43 and 44 in the absence of the baflle assemblies and injecting the steam directly onto the traveling web results in a cofidi'tio'rie'd "was containing from about 5% to about 12% moisture; A moisture content of from about 12% to about 15% may be'o'bt ained by passing the web through the humidifier unit in the absence of the bathe assemblies and as described hereinabove. A woven textile formed of-spun rayon yarn, for example, may be provided with -a moisture conteht of about 22% by passing the textile through the humidifier unit in the abs'ehce of the baffle assemblies and as shown by the solid line of the web.

, Although the humidifier unit has been illustrated in the drawings as being in a vertical'po's'ition, it is apparent that it is also satisfactory when mounted in a horizontal position. The positioning of the unit in either a vertical or horizontal position is a mere matter of choice to suit the individual conditions, particularly space available in the specific textile finishing installation. The only a1 teration of the structure of the humidifier sections for the horizontal mounting of the unit lies in the steam jets in the upper bank of injection coils, such as bank 15 (Figure 1). The jets 61' (Figure 5) are provided with internal extensions 62 which project into the upper por tion of the runner 19 to prevent the spraying of any condensate 63' into the chamber. It is understood, as is obvious, that the runners 19 would be bent slightly downwardly at their ends to permit condensate to flow readily into the headers.

The humidifier unit is employed in combination with conventional textile finishing apparatus. As pointed out hereinbefore, the apparatus is particularly advantageous in that the textile may be provided with an accurate and uniform moisture content as may be desired for any specific finishing treatment.

In certain types of finishing operations, it is necessary to use high temperatures to cure certain added materials or to eifect reactions between the constituents of a treating solution or between the constituents of the treating solution and the material constituting the fibers of the textile. In these treatments, the texile material becomes substantially completely dried out and the fibers may be somewhat brittle. In subsequent handling and use of the textile, it is desired to have certain proportions of moisture present in the fabric. The conditioning unit of this invention may be employed in such instances. In Figure 6, for example, there is illustrated diagrammatically an installation for the treatment of textiles wherein the conditioning unit is utilized to restore moisture in the textile after a chemical treatment. For example, in the application of a creaseproof finish to a textile, such as a rayon fabric, the textile web 108 is passed through a creaseproof solution 109 which may consist of a urea-formaldehyde or melamine-formaldehyde-solution of the conventional type. The fabric is then passed between squeeze rolls 110 to remove excess solution after which the fabric is dried in a suitable chamber 111 such as a clip frame or tenter. The fabric then passes through a heating chamber 112 wherein the coated textile is heated to temperatures of the order of about 300 P. so as to cure the resin. Such high temperature treatment also substantially compl tely dries the textile web. Moisture is then restored in the fabric by passing the fabric through a conditioning unit 116. The humidified textile web then passes over suit-able guide rolls 114 to and through calender rolls 115 and is finally collected on a drum or spool 116.

The unit 113 shown in Figure 6 is another embodiment of the humidifier unit of this invention. The chamber is provided with three banks of steam injection coils 117, 118 and 119 of a construction as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The horizontal runners of the center bank 118 areprovided withalternate jets directed toward bank 117 and 'the intermediate alternate jets being directed toward bank 119. In other respects, such as heating coils, exhaust ducts and steam supply to the steam injection coils 117, ;118 and 119, the construction may be as shown in Figure 1. Guide rolls 120 and 121 are positioned to guide the web 108 upwardly through the chamber between injection steam coils 117 and 118. Guide roll 122 is positioned above the steam coils and with the cooling drum 123 is adapted to guide the web downwardly between injection steam coils 118 and 119. The web is thereby passed through two zones of the steam atmosphere and is then immediately chilled by passing over the cooling drum as it leaves the steam atmosphere. I

In order to allow a single pass of the textile web between steam injection coils-118 and 119, the chamber is provided with' a horizontal slotted aperture 124 in a side wall in alignment with the guide rolls 121 and 122. A hinged closure 125 is preferably provided to permit the chamber to be closed unless the web is passed directly to the guide rolls 121 and 122. The heating chamber 112 may also be provided with a corresponding slotted aperture 126 and hinged closure 127. In the event it is desired to subject the web to a single pass between steam injection coils, the web is passed through the apertures 126 and 127, over guide roll 121, as shown by the dotted line 128, and guided downwardly between injection coils 118 and 119 by the guide roll 122 to the cooling drum 123.

Somewhat greater humidification of the fabric may be effected by interposing a cooling zone between the two passes of the fabric between steam injection coils. For example, the humidifier unit 113 of Figure 10 may be provided with a cooling drum or chill roll 129 over which the fabric is passed after passing it between steam injection coils 117 and 118 and before passing it between coils 118 and 119.

Although the means for cooling the fabric as it leaves the steam atmosphere has been shown as comprising chill rolls, the chill rolls may be replaced by a cooling chamber.

The humidifier unit may be simultaneously employed to provide a treatment of the fabric or of the coating material, where the finishing operation involves treatment of the fabric, with a chemical substance which can be either a gas or a liquid capable of being vaporized at the temperature of the steam. For example, a plasticizing agent for the textile fibers such as ethylene glycol or similar substances may be injected into the steam supply. Further, acetone, ethyl acetate or alcohol may be mixed with the steam or separately supplied to the steam chamber to soften and render tacky synthetic fibers soluble in such substances. Gaseous materials may also be supplied to the chamber. For example, chlorine may be employed as a bleaching agent. In the treatment of the fabric with resins, such as urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde resins, sulfur dioxide may be injected to aid in the subsequent curing of the resin. Where acidic materials are present as, for example, in the resin treatment, the conditioning or humidifier unit may be supplied with ammonia gas to neutralize any acid which remains on the fabric. Further, formaldehyde or a mothproofing or mildewproofing agent may be added to the steam.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

In apparatus for finishing textiles, the combination of a chamber having apertures in its walls to allow ingress and egress of a textile, at least three spaced steam coils in the chamber, jets on the steam coils to direct steam into the spaces between adjacent steam coils, means to supply moist steam to the steam coils, means to pass a textile through the chamber between a pair of adjacent steam coils, a chill roll positioned externally of the chamber, means to pass the textile upon its egress from the chamber to the chill roll, means to return the textile to the chamber and pass the textile through the chamber between another pair of adjacent steam coils, a second chill roll positioned externally of the chamber and means to pass the steam-treated textile upon its egress from the chamber to the second chill roll to prevent moisture loss therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 119,503 Brooks Oct. 3, 1871 759,980 Fries May 17, 1904 1,737,790 Gessner Dec. 3, 1929 8 V Sibson June 17, 1930 Buhlmann Dec. 30, 1930 Allsop June 2, 1931 Chapin June 7, 1932 Ross Nov. 7, 1944 Wedler Dec. 5, 1950 Helmus Dec. 12, 1950 Williams Jan. 9, 1951 Spooner Dec. 16, 1952 Quinn May 19, 1953 Mendenhall Aug. 9, 1955 Sprague et a1. Jan. 15, 1957 Speers Sept. 29, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Nov. 4, 1952 Germany Oct. 12, 1909 

